What each Lottery Team needs

We obviously have no idea how the Lottery will shape up. Although most teams at the bottom should be taking best available, let's see who might be the best fit for each team. This is to help teams later in the lottery and see likely who is left on the board.

Likely Picks: They'll be a top 3 pick more than likely. Doncic - playmaker feeding off Conley and feeding Parsons and Gasol. Switchblade...dude can play. Porter - nice switchable scorer with Parsons. Bagley - great player to play next to Gasol. Scorer, they'll have a nice high low game going with Bagley and Gasol. Although Ayton is the guy everyone is high on...Gasol is your guy there is no need to draft at that position unless you are trying to rebuild..and if you do that you have a lot of shipping to do.

MY PICK: I would like to see Doncic bring his Euroball to a traditionally grind it out team. I think Gasol and Conley would get some new life in them. I feel they need Doncic more than they need Ayton or Bamba.

Likely Picks: The Suns are proof that picking low in the lottery the last couple years doesn't guarantee success. Their only key player is really Devin Booker. Ayton - Zona guy. Obvious need. Chandler on last year ever. Losing Len. Ayton is the guy. This team desperately needs defensive help. Doncic - great playmaker along with Booker is dynamic offense. Just have to hope they get some serious bigman help. Bamba - Porter is a nice offensive piece but you really need the bigman help. Pheonix should take who is left of Ayton or Bamba, or take Doncic as a consolation prize.

MY PICK: Pheonix needs Bamba. I think tehy seriously need a Defensive Anchor. Ayton would be nice but I think Ayton is a better fit in Atlanta.

Likely Picks: Best player available. But Doncic is a nice fit. Porter is an excellent pick. Bagley is also a great fit. Bamba is good but not great. This team needs an alpha Big. Trae Young would be a reach pick for Atlanta.

MY PICK: I want to see Ayton in Atlanta. Atlanta needs an exciting player. Pheonix already has one in Booker. I think Booker and Bamba are a good fit of little and big. I think Schroeder being a traditional PG fits better with Ayton.

MY PICK: Porter. I think Porter's offensive game is a nice fit iwth Cleveland if King James leaves. It would be nice to see Doncic take over for James and see how the offense works with the new Savant running things there. But Porter is the best fit with the rest of their roster, they'll need his scoring.

Dallas - Key Players: Harrison Barnes, Yogi Ferrell, Dennis Smith

Likely Picks: Anyone but a small guard or Trae Young. Porter is a nice fit. Jaren Jackson as well.

MY PICK: Jaren Jackson. I don't think Ayton is a great fit with Dennis Smith style. Dennis Smith needs the ball, let him kick it out to Jackson and help Smith out on defense. Jaren Jackson is the heir to Dirk.

Orlando: Isaac, Simmons, Fournier, Vucevic, Gordon

Likely Picks: Team needs a playmaker scorer. Doncic or Trae Young. If not, then a true big like Ayton Bamba. Then Jackson.

MY PICK: Trae Young or Doncic. Team is desperate for some guards that are exciting and can create. They also definitely need a true center li

Likely Picks: Need a go to scorer. Porter is perfect fit. Doncic would be an alpha. Trae Young would be a nice addition. This is now top 7. Even Wendell Carter wouldn't be a bad pick as a true bigman.

MY PICK: Wendell Carter. More of a bigman than that bum out of Kentucky. Can also see them taking one of the Bridges boys.

Chicago: Dunn, Markkanen, Lavine,

Likely Picks: Need help at swing and 5. Bagley would be ideal here. Trae Young isn't bad here as a change of pace offense guy. Wendell Carter. Either of the Bridges. Knox. Miles Bridges would be a nice athlete to pair with Dunn and Lavine. But Mikal Bridges is also a target here if they're really trying to build a defensive team. I see them going Carter/Young/Miles/Mikall

MY PICK: Mikal Bridges. They have Portis and a bunch of other athletic 4s. They don't have a 3 and D swing at all. Can see Dunn, Lavine, Bridges, Markkanen, Lopez out there.

Knicks - Kanter, Hardaway, Lee, Porzingis, Ntilikina, Mudiay

Likely Picks: Either of the Bridges. Miles gives them energy. Mikall gives them Defense. Trae Young if he's available for scoring. Wendell Carter. or Knox.

Kemba is ball dominant and gets his minutes but Sexton is a very good backup PG for them although they already drafted Monk who apparently they have playing as a scoring guard as well. I see them going with Knox or maybe Miles Bridges just to give them some more energy they need.

They are such a wierd team they are definitely better than their record. Decent at every position just can't figure it out...no floor leadership I guess, no team identity.

But you're right, Sexton could go to Charlotte I just don't see why when they just drafted Monk and have Kemba. Unless they are planning to move on from Kemba then it makes the most sense. But if they plan to keep him, Miles Bridges if there...or Kevin Knox. I see NYK and Charlotte taking either Miles Bridges or Kevin Knox.

Dallas - Jaren Jackson (this isn't in proper order Dallas could end up anywhere from 1 - 7. I like the Jaren Jackson fit to spread the floor for Smith Jr. and also play some serious defense. Bagley is also a nice fit here, a power forward to run with both Booker and Smith Jr. is what i want to see)

Chicago - Wendell Carter (although Mikal Bridges is a nice fit here, Lavine Dunn and Makkanen need help at big...Robin Lopez ain't the answer. They already have help with Valentine etc, go for Carter since this is a big man draft)

New York - Nitlinka, Mudiay, Porzingis, Kanter. Sounds like they need a swingman. Probably defensive minded too. Knox is less of a defensive player than Mikall Bridges. Maybe they trade down with Philly. Or could also take Miles Bridges as an exciting player with force in NY. I have a feeling its Mikall Bridges here though.

Charlotte - Knox or Sexton. Sexton if Kemba trade happens. Knox can maybe give them a decent scoring option. I don't think tehy'd take Mikall Bridges as he and Batum are very similar, but maybe they want more of a switcable defense.

Philly - Knox Sexton or either of the Bridges. Whichever one is left over. Or Lonnie Walker. I hope its either Lonnie Walker or Mikall Bridges. Sucks to be picking 12 though. Damn Lakers.

For me, Atlanta, Dallas and eventually Orlando may pick Ayton first at center if they got the first choice.

Phoenix has more problems at the power forward spot where neither Bender nor Chriss have really produced and may go with Bamba or Jackson, the best defensive players at one. Of course if they got the first pick, they may also go with Ayton, the local kid.

Sacramento and Memphis may go for a power forward (Bamba, Bagley, Jackson) or a small forward (Porter, Doncic). The bigs are a rarer product than a SF so it would be hard to pass on one of them in the top 5.

Orlando needs a point guard, so Young is an option, they also need a defensive anchor so Ayton with the first or Bamba/Jackson and they could want to trade Gordon and get more depth.

Chicago needs a small forward or center. If they pick below five, Porter/Doncic or Carter Jr will be their pick. If both are gone, Mikal Bridges is an option

Cleveland needs a point guard or a center. They will pick Carter first, or Young if he's still available.

New York needs a real small forward/energy guy so Knox, both Bridges are options here. Maybe Carter Jr, a better defender than Kanter if he's still there, which I doubt.

Philly wants Mikal Bridges.

Charlotte is locked with Batum who needs to play at his natural small forward spot. They need a scoring power forward or a guard. I think Gilgeous Alexander, Miles Bridges can be their pick.

The draft is deep, I think some 12/20 range picks can become great players like it has been the case with Donovan Mitchell or Gobert

Grizzlies - Bagley, most grind it out type player which they love... Phoenix - need community identity and big who can shot outside also, so Ayton... Atlanta - JJJ, would fantastic fit with Collins as two energy bigs when one more defensive and outside shooting guy and other more offensive guy with inside scoring... Cavs - Wendell Carter Jr - already have Tristan as defensive big and liability on offense, so they take over Bamba the poor man KAT in Carter... Sacramento - they have no talent at the 3 spot so Porter... Orlando - need PG, floor general who can shoot, so Young or Duncic are great fit... Dallas - Mikal Bridges, more fluid Wes Mattuews would be great future Partner in the backcourt for Smith... Bulls - Miles Bridges, needs firepower at the 3... Knicks - Bamba, two unicorns Porzingis/Bamba front court is just mind blowing... Charlotte - need big Guard next to Walker or Monk, so Duncic or Gilgeos Alexander... Philly - Saxton, would be a steal and big upgrade at back up PG, a Dennis Smith clone...

A lot of the players around the top of the mock fit nicely on any likely lottery team. Doncic is the interesting one for me, does he need to be a main ball handler and what is his natural NBA position. He is an SG/SF but could possibly be a point forward. Also when looking at best fits we almost tend to big up existing rosters yet these teams are at the top of the lottery for a reason.

I'm a Suns fan - we could say Booker in situ at SG, Jackson nice SF prospect, Bender and Chriss in frontcourt, TJ Warren having a good season but we have still only won 20 games so there is a case we take BPA.

Atlanta could virtually take anyone near top of draft possibly bar Sexton.

Chicago likewise and maybe Dallas and Memphis.

A guy like Ayton could be in a good place in Dallas or Memphis if he had Dirk or Marc Gasol to mentor him.

Bamba is my slight wildcard as he is a work in progress but if someone likes his size in workouts he could go very high.

First I thought it's embarassing somebody still view Chandler Parsons as a "key player", but when I saw Miles Plumlee also mentoined under this label I know something's wrong... You should use "under contract" or "unfortunetly on the roster".... Atlanta is really bad, but saying Miles Plumlee is a key player on any team -including the G-Leauge- is ridicolous

Agree with your Chicago picks, I'm 100% positive they'll be deciding between Wendell Carter and the 2 Bridges. Whenever the Bulls have high lotto picks they almost always go for players from blueblood schools (Hinrich, Deng, Lauri, etc) plus they definitely have huge holes at both C & SF.

If you're a team with the number one pick, I don't care what you need Ayton should be the only guy considered he's gonna be GOOD in the NBA man he's just gushing with talent and has the physical profile also.

Luka is just extremely polished and well rounded at such a young age he's probably the safest pick in the top 5 imo. I don't think he can be the guy to lead your team to the promised land but he is a guy that will be a high level starter-all star for your team for 6-10 years. If I'm on the clock with porter and luka left I'm taking porter just off of what he can potentially be. Porter has the making sense of a 22-25 ppg career kinda guy while Luka is more around 18-20.